Kathy Lou Curran Burkhart

A native of Lexington, NC, Kathy Lou Curran was born in Salisbury, NC, on Dec. 7, 1957, the first child born to Wade Hampton and Annie Lou Curran.

She became the older sister to David and Joel. Her father's Navy career took his family to California, Guam and Virginia Beach; Kathy graduated from Kempsville High School in 1976.

Her father's retirement and subsequent return to Lexington in the summer of 1976 reunited the Curran's with many old friends. That summer Kathy and Kenly Burkhart started dating, they married three years later. Kenly's career took them to the Dallas-Fort Worth area where they started their family with Aaron Kenly.

Several years later, Aaron was joined by Evan William. Kenly's work soon brought them back to North Carolina where they settled in Liberty. Alex Hampton eventually joined and the family was complete.

Kathy built a loving world around her family. She was a first-rate cook, specializing in anything her boys liked. She made sure to include her mother in many activities, kept her brother, cousins and in-laws close, and maintained a house that was welcoming and open to any and all. She adored her boys, showering them with love and a healthy dose of parental guidance.

She was a comforting and reassuring voice if you had a problem and the first person there when you needed help. Kathy could usually be found knitting or sewing something special or trying a new craft.

Over time, Kenly's work took Kathy to Northern Virginia and, finally, New Prague, MN. It was there that she spent the final 12 years of her life watching her boys graduate from college, begin their careers and expand with a daughter-in-law, Holleigh, and grandson, Curran Burkhart.

She is survived by Kenly, her husband of 39 years; Aaron, Holleigh and Curran Burkhart of Bellingham, WA; Evan and his girlfriend, Morgan Garcia of Raleigh; Alex and his girlfriend, Siobhan Colleran of Minneapolis, MN; her brother, Joel, of Raleigh; and mother, Annie Lou, of Burlington.

She was blessed to have seven nieces and nephews who gave her great joy and happiness. She was preceded in death by her father and brother, David.

The family has chosen to celebrate Kathy's life privately, but have set up a memorial fund with the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance (http://support.ocrfa.org/goto/kathyburkhart) for those who wish to remember Kathy and honor her memory.

Condolences may be offered at www.richandthompson.com.